Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2008

The veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The case has been remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to clarify the relationship between his hypertension and both his diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease.

The veteran withdrew his appeal on all issues except the one related to service connection for heart disease and hypertension. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal.

The veteran's high blood pressure is rated at 10 percent, and his residuals of myocardial infarction are also rated at 10 percent.,Both conditions meet the criteria for a compensable rating under their respective diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for thyroid cancer and coronary artery disease. The decision found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for thyroid cancer, but also concluded that there was no medical evidence linking the current coronary artery disease to his active service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, considering the impairment from the service-connected disability and his education and occupational experience.

The veteran's claim of service connection for heart disease, as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Board finds that the veteran's cause of death, myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease, was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The examiner concluded it was less likely than not that the veteran's medications contributed to his weight gain.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his coronary artery bypass graft following non-Q wave myocardial infarction is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the veteran's coronary artery disease, as manifested by a workload greater than 5 METs and left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction greater than 50%, without evidence of congestive heart failure, warranted a 30% rating.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease and a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, but remanded the issue of service connection for dysphagia.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, heart disease, degenerative joint disease of the knees, hiatal hernia with reflux esophagitis, and sinusitis are not supported by competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's coronary artery disease with chronic congestive heart failure, status post-myocardial infarction, and status post-coronary artery bypass graft was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated, and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the veteran's heart disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred. The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for evaluation purposes, necessitating further examination to determine if the veteran's glaucoma is related to his service-connected peripheral neuropathy and if his heart disease is proximately due or permanently aggravated by his diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD was granted with an effective date of July 17, 2003. His PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease, and erectile dysfunction are not service-connected as they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection based on his service-connected diabetes mellitus Type II.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and Social Security Administration records. The AOJ will schedule the veteran for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from caring for his daily personal needs and do not render him unable to protect himself from the hazards of daily living, thus denying SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to independently perform daily functions of self-care and protect himself from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment, warranting special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance starting September 28, 2005.